Behold the Birds Protecting Chimney S wifts at NPD 2019 June 26| - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Behold the Birds Protecting Chimney S wifts at NPD 2019 June 26| Joel Evans & Callie Stirling | NPD Closure Project UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -1-

Topics • Chimney Swift Background Chimney Swift Counts • Potential Effects to Chimney Swifts • Mitigation Efforts • • Species at Risk Permit • Follow Up Monitoring UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -2-

The Chimney Swift Background Information Migratory Species • • High Site Fidelity • Aerial Insectivore 90% decrease in • population since 1970 Threatened since 2009 • UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -3-

The Chimney Swift Background Information Specific Habitat Needed • for Roosting Synanthropic species • • Juveniles and unpaired birds remain Maternity Roosts • UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -4-

Chimney Swifts at NPD UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -5-

Weekly Counts NPD Chimney Swift Counts: Historical Trend 3000 2500 Number of Chimney Swifts 2000 1500 1000 500 0 110 130 150 170 190 210 230 250 Julian Days UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -6-

Past Monitoring Weekly roost counts have been • conducted to collect data since 2010 • Masters Projects through Trent University with Melanie Farquhar and Joe Nocera • In May 2014, an infrared, weatherproof camera was installed to monitor Chimney Swift behaviour within the ventilation stack 24/ 7 Temperature loggers were also • deployed inside of the chimney at depths of 2m and 5m UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -7-

Current monitoring Automatic cameras Weekly counts and • inclement weather monitoring occur during the migratory season Daily counts occur • during breeding season • New camera installed June 12 th allows monitoring 24/ 7 UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -8-

Public Chimney Swift Nights 2019 • 4 nights available to the public Averaged 15 members of the • public per night Averaged 958 birds • • Witnessed a Merlin catching a Chimney Swift UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -9-

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Chimney Swifts and the NPD Closure Project Current End State Configuration Demolition & Grout Fill -11- UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ

Potential Impacts & Best Practices Five potential sources of disturbance: 1) Noise 2) Vibration 3) Dust 4) Encroachment 5) Light Best practices Limit work as much as possible to fair-weather days during daylight hours Minimize decommissioning activities within 5 metres of the roost UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -12-

Mitigating Noise • Activities that will create noise should be undertaken during daylight hours Noise performance should be considered in the selection of • mechanical equipment and vehicles Mobile plants (compressors, generators) should be located as • far as possible from roosting stack Concrete batching and other noisy apparatuses should be • located as far as possible from roosting stack • Devices oriented to direct noise emissions away from stack UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -13-

Mitigating Noise • On site structures and terrain will be used to screen the stack and provide noise suppression Noise level of audible warning devices should be kept to the • minimum necessary for employee health and safety Dramatic and sudden disturbances limited to daylight hours • Ensure that noise minimization is incorporated into all • demolition activities • Soft start approach UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -14-

Mitigating Vibration Ensure vibration minimization is incorporated into all • demolition procedures Activities that will create vibration should be undertaken • during daylight hours Soft start approach • UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -15-

Mitigating Dust and Light • Insofar as is practical, keep dust from demolition to a minimum Orient all lighting fixtures so the top of the stack is not • illuminated UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -16-

Species at Risk Permit • NPD is currently working with Environment and Climate Change Canada to attain a Species at Risk Permit Reasonable alternatives were considered for this project • Do nothing • • Remove the stack • Remove the stack and build an alternative habitat Retain the current stack • UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -17-

Post Decommissioning Follow-up Monitoring CNL proposes to • conduct weekly evening roost counts for 2 years after post- closure • After 2 years, CNL strives to continue counts annually during the National Chimney Swift Evening Roost Count initiative UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -18-

cnl.ca/npd cnl.ca/youtube communications@ cnl.ca UNRESTRICTED / ILLIMITÉ -19-